[A/N: ok so validation happened VERY quickly so I am squeezing this last chapter in before I leave! I hope you like it!!! R&R and enjoy!]

Lily sat on the couch of the Gryffindor common room staring at the fire. She had brought her knees to her chin as she stared off into the fire. James sat next to her on the couch with his arm behind her shoulders on the couch as he too stared into the fire. Penelope was curled up in an armchair as she nibbled on her bottom lip, deep in thought. Remus and ZiZi were sitting together in the other armchair. ZiZi had her head resting against Remus’ chest as he stroked her hair. Frank was standing by the windowsill, looking out into the dark night sky.

Becky came down the girls’ staircase and sat on the floor in front of the fire.

“How is she?” whispered Lily.

“Still locked in the bathroom,” sighed Becky.

“Lily, maybe you should talk with her, I mean you know how it feels to loose your parents,” said ZiZi quietly, “I know I have no idea what it feels like.”

“I knew it was coming,” Lily whispered, “She didn’t, and I only lost one.”

“The way you talk about your dad it makes it seem like you lost both,” said Becky.

“You can understand better then any of us can,” nodded Penelope.

“I’ll see what I can do,” said Lily as she stood up and walked up the stairs.

“Alice?” she asked as she knocked on the bathroom door.

“Go away!” sobbed Alice.

“Alice I know what you’re going through!” tried Lily.

“No you don’t! You got to say goodbye!” she sobbed.

“Yeah, but I had to watch her die before my eyes,” she said, “That’s pretty bad too, don’t you think?”

“Yeah,” sniffed Alice.

“How about you unlock the door and we can just talk?” offered Lily.

There were a few more sniffs and then a clicking noise. Lily twisted the doorknob and saw Alice sitting on the floor against the wall sobbing.

“Alice,” gasped Lily.

Alice’s hair was cut off so it was only to her chin. Her eyeliner and mascara were running down her face and her eyes were red and blotchy.

“It does if you make it go away,” said Lily, “And I’m not talking about internalizing it.”

“Everything I see and hear and do reminds me of them,” sobbed Alice.

“That’s not a bad thing, Alice,” said Lily soothingly, “Its good to remember the good times, it makes them seem more alive in a way.”

“But it makes me miss them,” she sobbed into Lily shoulder.

“But they’re not really gone,” said Lily as she rubbed Alice’s back.

“Yes- they-are,” she cried helplessly.

“They live in you,” said Lily, “And in your memories, and in your accomplishments, and you’ll see them when the time is right. They wouldn’t want you to cry over their death Alice, they lived good lives and they got to see you grow up, I have a feeling that’s all they really wanted.”

“You think so?” she whimpered.

“Yeah, I do,” said Lily, “C’mon lets get you cleaned up.”

Alice sat on the closed toilet seat while Lily wiped her face with a wet cloth.

“I have my mother’s hair,” said Alice in a daze, “I had her hair.”

“You still have it,” smiled Lily, “Its jut a bit shorter.”

“It looks awful, maybe I don’t have her hair, her hair never looked awful,” mumbled Alice in a daze.

“No, you have her hair,” said Lily as she finished cleaning off Alice’s face.

“It looks awful-“

“We can fix it,” said Lily, “Want me to work on it now?”

Alice nodded her head, “Can you make it shoulder length?”

“Sure,” smiled Lily.

Lily took out her wand and muttered a spell causing the hair to grow until her shoulders. Then Lily took out a brush and combed through the hair. She styled it so it was straight and went in until the shoulders where it flared out for about an inch. Lily layered the hair a little and made Alice have side bangs.

“There,” said Lily handing Alice a hand mirror, “How’s that?”

“It looks like her hair,” whispered Alice as she stared into the mirror.

“Are you hungry at all?” asked Lily.

“No,” said Alice as she continued to stare off into the mirror.

“Tired?” asked Lily, “You could change out of your uniform and crawl into bed.”

“Okay,” said Alice, “Do you think he meant it?”

“Think who meant what?” asked Lily confused.

“Do you think Frank meant it when he said he loved me,” clarified Alice as she looked into Lily’s eyes, “Do you?”

“He loves you,” smiled Lily, “He’s been asking about you this whole time. He asked if he could see you, if you want I can petrify the stares so he can come up.”

“Okay,” said Alice.

“Okay,” said Lily, “I’ll go get him.”

Lily walked carefully out into the stairwell, where she began to run to get Frank.

“You, Frank,” she said as she burst into the common room.

“What?” he asked scared, “Is she okay? Is she all right? Is she mad at me-“

“She wants to see you,” said Lily.

“She- she does?” he stammered.

“Yes, now go!” said Lily, “And who ever left the scissors in the bathroom your lucky she only took her feelings out on her hair and not the rest of her body.”

Frank sprinted up the stairs while the rest of the room pestered Lily with questions.

“What do you mean about her hair?” asked Becky.

“She cut it off,” said Lily as she sat down next to James again, “I cleaned her up and her hair up but she’s not doing too well.”

“But we’ll get our Alice back, right?” asked ZiZi desperately.

Everyone became lost in his or her own thoughts and no one answered ZiZi.

“Alice?” called Frank as he entered the dormitory, “Alice-“

“Frank!” she cried as she tackle hugged him.

“Hey,” he said holding her in his arms.

“I am so sorry! I was a total-“ started Alice.

“Its okay,” he said stroking her hair, “Nice do.”

“Lily did it,” said Alice, “Did you mean it? What you said in the forest? Lily says you meant it but I-I just need to know you meant it.”

“I said what I meant,” said Frank, “I love you Alice Prewett, and I probably always will.”

“Will you- Will you wait for me?” she asked him.

“What do you mean?” asked Frank confused.

“I want to be able to say that too, to tell you that I love you, will you still want me when I’m able to say it?” asked Alice nervously.

“I’ll always be here Alice,” smiled Frank.

“Thank you,” said Alice as she hugged him.

Three hours later ZiZi and Penelope had snuck back up stairs to see how Alice and Frank were doing, but found them asleep on Alice’s bed. They grabbed Becky’s, Lily’s and their totes and silently stuffed them full of over night essentials.

They silently closed the door behind them and scampered off to the common room.

“Why not?” asked Sirius, “Someone could walk down here and accidently step on your face while walking out of their dorm room!”

“Well when you put it like that!” said Lily rolling her eyes.

“You can change in the bathroom, don’t worry Remus is a gentleman so he won’t let us get away with anything,” smirked James.

Sirius hit him up side the head with a pillow from the couch.

“Alright,” said Becky, “We’ll sleep with you.”

Everyone burst up laughing.

“Speak for yourself,” laughed Lily.

“I didn’t mean it like that,” she said as she rolled her eyes.

“Sure you didn’t Beckette,” smirked James.

“Shut up, Potter,” she said playfully as she hit him on the arm.

“C’mon,” said Remus taking ZiZi’s bag, “I’ll show you guys to the room.”

The room was set up just like the girls’: five beds with the heads against the wall each with a nightstand and a trunk at the foot of the bed.

“Um that door over there is to the bathroom,” said Remus, “And there’s an extra bed if anyone wants it.”

“I’m fine on the floor,” said Lily.

“Becky, you can take it,” said Penelope.

“Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yeah, go ahead,” said Penelope as she stood next to Lily.

“Uh you guys can change into your pajamas in the bathroom and we’ll get the room ready and stuff,” said Remus awkwardly.

The girls grabbed their bags and went into the bathroom to change…
Lily’s POV:

“So are you going to sleep with Remus?” asked Becky to ZiZi as she pulled off her shirt.

“Wait like sex?” asked Penelope shocked.

“No honey, just sleeping together as in both being unconscious next to each other, like Frank and Alice were,” I explained patiently.

“Ohhh,” said Penelope as she wiggled out of her jeans and slipped on her pajama bottoms.

“Um I dunno,” said ZiZi as she pulled out her pajamas.

“Do you want to?” asked Becky.

“Yeah,” said ZiZi blushing.

“Becky!” I said as I saw her pull out her pajamas, “You cannot seriously be wearing that!”

“Hey its what they grabbed for me!” she defended a she slipped into it.

“That’s all she had!” exclaimed Penelope.

Her pajamas resembled the lingerie Alice had bought me. It was light pink and had spaghetti straps. It barely cover her butt and her bosom was accentuated by a dark line bellow it separating it from the wrest of the nightgown. There was a large flower connecting both parts of the nightgown and drawing attention to her breasts.

“We searched the whole dormitory and that was it,” confirmed ZiZi.

“You are the biggest flirt I have ever met,” I muttered as I slipped into my pajamas.

“ZiZi’s PJs aren’t much different from mine!” exclaimed Becky.

It was true; her nightgown was only a little bit more conservative then Becky’s. ZiZi’s nightgown was all white and covered about an inch after her butt. There was a white ribbon that tied into a longbow right bellow her bosom but other than those features the nightgown was plain white.

“What are we going to do with you two?” asked Penelope teasingly.

She wore a while silk cami with pink polka dots on it. It was stretched near her bosom and had spaghetti straps. She wore matching silk boy shorts underneath.

My pajamas resembled Penelope’s more than anyone else’s. I wore a light lavender cami with a thick band of white lace on the top. The cami was connected to silk lavender shorts that just covered my butt and a spec more. A string was tied around the hips to adjust the size. The shorts were lined with a thinner band of the same lace as the cami.

“Ready?” I asked as we shoved the stuff into our bags.

“Think I’ll get to sleep with Remus?” asked ZiZi hopefully.

“Only one way to find out,” said Becky.

“Lily, you go first!” said Penelope nervously, “To make sure the coast is clear!”

“Well what if it isn’t?” I asked worried.

“Cover you eyes!” said Penelope as she pushed me towards the door.

I carried my tote bag, which held my stuff in it, on my arm as I covered my eyes with the other hand. I knocked on the door before opening it.

“Lily, what are you doing?” laughed James.

“Making sure the coast is clear?” I offered.

“And how would it not be?” he asked smiling. His voice was coming closer.

“Well how was I supposed to know if you guys were lounging around in the nude?” I justified.

“Yeah, because we’ve been known to do that,” laughed James.

“Coast is clear,” he said quietly as he gently removed my hand from my eyes.

“Hi,” I whispered. We were extremely close and it was making me so nervous I couldn’t form proper thoughts.

“Hi,” he whispered back, “Um you’re guys’ beds are in the middle of the room, we weren’t sure what ZiZi wanted to do-“

“With Remus,” I whispered back, “But only if he wants to.”

“Oh trust me, he does,” James smiled, “Um here choose a bed.”

I walked into the room and nodded my head to Remus for ZiZi. She smiled and scampered off to him and his bed.

I sat down cross-legged on the middle of the three mattresses in the middle of the room. Penelope sat on the one to my right.

“I see you packed Deani,” I smiled.

“Yeah,” she said, “I was too scared to read what people were saying about Alice and stuff, but I thought-“

“I could check and see if the coast was clear?” I smiled.

“Yeah,” sighed Penelope.

I flipped open the magazine.

“There’s pictures of her and John Paul breaking up,” I said as I flipped the page, “And of her running down the corridor after she had been told about her parents,” I said as I flipped another page, “And photos of us in the common room and us going up to the boys stairwell...”

“Think the professors will find out?” she asked nervously.

“Who cares?” I asked as I stared at the photo of us in the common room, “What are they going to do?”

“Detentions with Filch?” offered Penelope.

“Okay now I care,” I said looking up at her.

We both broke out laughing.

“What’s up?” asked James as he plopped down on the bed to my left.

“We are in Deani,” I said tossing the magazine at him.

“I like you’re new nickname, BadGirl,” smirked James at me.

“Are you saying I don’t deserve it?” I asked him twirling my hair in between two fingers.

“Nope,” said James smiling, “Just admiring it.”

A horrible storm was raging outside. The rain was pelting the glass windows and thunder and lightening erupted from the dark skies. I jumped slightly when I heard the monstrous thunder. I loved the sound of rain, and the beauty of lightening but tonight these wonders seemed ominous.

Penelope lay asleep next to me, and I could make out Becky’s sleeping silhouette on the bed. ZiZi slept peacefully cuddled up next to Remus. I sighed and sat up on my mattress, knowing I wasn’t going to get any sleep tonight.

James’ curtains were closed, but I could see light coming through the cracks. I stood up slowly and silently crept to the side of his bed. I tapped on his curtains before I pulled them back a little.

“Hey,” I whispered.

“Hey,” he said, “What are you doing up?”

“I was just going to ask you the same thing,” I smiled.

“Wanna join me?” offered James scooting over.

“Sure, thanks,” I said as I sat down cross-legged next to him.

“So what are you doing up?” he asked just before thunder sounded.

I jumped at the frightening sound while James laughed at me.

“You, Lily Evans, are afraid of thunder?” he laughed.

“I am not-“ I started but my bluff was discovered when another loud clap of thunder sounded and I jumped again.

“Come here,” he said wrapping his arm around me and pulling me towards him, “The thunder can’t touch you in here.”

“I know,” I said as I sort of cuddled into him, “But it’s so loud, the whole storm is. I usually love storms, falling asleep to rain drops pitter patting on the roof, but this one just seems so-“

“Ominous?” asked James.

“Yeah,” I said, “It gives me the heebie-jeebies.”

“I know what you mean,” said James, “Does it ever get easier?”

“Does what get easier?” I asked as I rested my head on his shoulder.

“The pain of loosing someone, of loosing a parent, does it ever get easier?” he asked again.

“It gets easier to forget,” I said, “It sounds awful but over time you stop thinking and dwelling on the death. You become sort of numb towards it.”

“How long did it take for you to become numb over it?” asked James playing with my hair.

“I spent a week in bed,” I said trying to remember things I had tried so hard to forget, “And then one day I just ran out of tears. I walked through the house and saw all of the pictures of my mother were gone. I guess that’s when I became numb.”

“That does sound awful,” said James.

“Were you and your dad close?” I asked him.

“Yeah,” said James, “He was the one who first taught me how to play Quidditch. Were you and your mom close?”

“Yeah,” I said smiling, “She would always take me shopping with her, I guess its part of my obsession with shopping.”

“No one would tell Petunia or I anything, they just said that my mum was sick and that she would get better, but she just didn’t” I said, “It took her about two weeks to die… How did your dad die?”

“He was an auror and was on a mission, the letter we got said that he died from the Killing Curse,” he said.

“That’s awful,” I gasped.

“Yeah, I guess it is,” said James, “Do you think Alice will be okay?”

“She was quite close to both her mum and dad,” I said, “It’s every kids worst nightmare now, having your loved ones taken away from you.”

“To think we used to just be worried about grades and what other people thought of us or what to wear on a date, but now on top of all of those worries we have to worry about our lives and our families’ lives or-“

“What to wear to funerals?” I smirked, “I know what you mean. Our world is so wrong.”

“I guess its up to us to make it better,” said James as he stroked my shoulder with his thumb.

“Us?” I asked looking up at him.

“Yeah,” said James, “You, me, the Marauders, your little posse, and who ever else is willing to fight for a better world.”

“You know, that storm seems to have quieted down a bit,” I yawned as I snuggled closer to him.

“Here,” he whispered.

He pulled down the blankets and slid down so he could lie down. He patted the spot next to him and I slid under the blankets as well. He wrapped his arm around me again, pulling me close to him. I lay my head on his chest and closed my eyes.

“Us sounds nice,” I mumbled before sleep over took my body.

“It does,” he said as he kissed the top of my head.

“Hi Mathilda,” I said into my cell phone as I swung my legs over the edge of James’s bed, “Something awful has happened. I’m fine; it’s Alice’s parents- they were murdered. They were all the family she had and Alice is a complete wreck- I think Alice has to plan the funeral but I’m just worried it’s too much, you know? ……. Well only her father was a wizard her mother was- um normal, so I don’t think the type of funeral really matters,” I said looking at ZiZi for confirmation, which she gave me.

The boys were in the bathroom changing into their school robes while we were gathering our things.

“Oh Mathilda that’s so thoughtful of you!” I exclaimed. I gave the girls an over exaggerated wink, “I’m sure modeling it after my mum’s would be fine. Mum’s was as wonderful as a funeral can be. All right, talk to you later, thank you!

“Mathilda offered to plan the funeral so all we have to do is get Alice to the funeral, but with Franks help that shouldn’t be too difficult,” I said as I snapped my cell phone shut.

“How do you think Alice and Frank were last night?” asked Penelope worriedly.

“I’m sure they were just fine,” smirked Becky, “Now who wants to go wake the love birds?”

All three girls turned and looked at me expectantly. I rolled my eyes.

“Fine,” I said, “I’ll go wake them. You can come on up when you see Frank leaving if you want.”

“Thank you!” sang ZiZi as I left the room with my bag in hand.

I prayed to god or whatever was out there that the common room would be empty. I peeped my head out and thought of praising a higher being later.

“Ms. Evans!” called a voice after me as I scampered up the girls’ dormitory stairwell.

I quick dropped my bag on the step so not to look too suspicious. I walked down only to see Professor McGonagall waiting for me. I decided the whole praising thing was not in my near future.

“Good morning Professor,” I said politely.

“How is Ms. Prewett this morning?” she asked.

“Um I think she’s okay, she’s asleep, but she cut off her hair last night,” I said. Why had I brought up the hair?

“Headmaster Dumbledore has allowed her to take off the rest of the week off and attend the funeral, when ever it is,” she said, “Headmaster Dumbledore also said that any students who are attending the funeral may as well go.”

“Mathilda, my um maid, is planning it so whenever I know, you and Headmaster Dumbledore will know,” I said.

“Very well,” she said stiltedly as she walked out of the portrait hole.

“Phew,” I muttered to myself.

When I reached my bag I picked it up and sprinted to our floor. When I reached my door I took a deep breath and opened it.

Alice and Frank lay asleep together, fully clothed, on top of the sheets and covers. Alice had her back to Frank but he had his arm wrapped around her, pulling her close to him.

I leaned against the open door and crossed my arms across my chest. I cleared me throat and smirked while raising an eyebrow.

“Lily!” said Frank sitting up.

“Good morning, Frank,” I said still smirking, “Sleep well?”

“Lily-“ started Alice.

“McGonagall asked about you,” I said.

“Shit,” muttered Frank getting out of bed.

“Don’t worry I covered for you guys,” I said, “McGonagall said you could take the rest of the week off, if you wanted to, and she said its fine for us to attend the funeral.”

“The funeral!” gasped Alice, “I have to plan it and organize it! What types of flowers are there usu-“

“Whoa slow down there,” I said stepping over to her, “You’re in no state to organize a funeral.”

“But someone has to-“ argued Alice.

“Mathilda’s got it all under control,” I said, “It’s fine.”

“What am I going to wear?” asked Alice.

“We can find something,” I said as I sat down on her bed and stroked her hair, “How are you?”

“Fabulous,” she said sarcastically.

“Alice-“ I started.

“I’m um I’m dealing with it,” she said, “I think I’m going to freshen up and take a shower.”

“Alright,” I smiled.

“Thanks for last night, Frank,” smiled Alice as she got up and went into the bathroom and shut the door.

“I’ll just- yeah okay- see you, Lily,” said Frank as walked through the door.

“Hey Frank?” I called as he passed me, “Thanks for comforting Alice last night.”

“Don’t mention it,” he said.

He walked down the stairs, unknowingly signaling the girls to come.

“Hey,” I said as I walked back into the common room, “Are you sure we’ve got everything?”

“You changed again,” said James as he rolled his eyes.

“Alice insisted,” I shrugged as I walked over to where he was standing near our trunks.

James sighed, “We have everything except for everyone.”

I rolled my eyes, “You get the guys, and I’ll get the girls. Just hurry up before anyone sees us.”

James saluted me and then walked up to his dorm room. I laughed lightly and then trudged up the staircase again.

“Hey guys,” I said wearily as I slipped through the door way, “What’s going on? Where’s Alice?”

“In the bathroom,” said ZiZi as she ran her fingers through her hair, “She’s doing her final touches.”

I sighed, “The guys should be in the common room by now, tell them Alice and I will meet up with you guys at Dumbledore’s.”

“Kay,” shrugged Becky as she sashayed out of the dormitory.

I gave them a comforting smile and then headed into the lavatory.

“Hey,” I said as I walked over to her, “You look great.”

“Bull,” she said as she examined her pores, “I totally look like a cow.”

“You do not,” I said, as I looked her up and down.

She was wearing a black tank with grey skinny jeans. She had black booties on her feet, bangles on her wrist, and a huge black bow on her head.

“I think I should change,” she sighed as she stepped back from the mirror and examined her outfit.

“Alice, you can change once we get to your house, but we really have to go-“ I said pointing my thumb at the door.

She whipped her head around at me horrified, “We can’t stay there.”

“Stay where? At your house?” I asked, “Alice, we don’t really have any where else-“

“You’re house-“ she said quickly.

“Petunia would kill us!” I laughed uncomfortably.

“ZiZi’s!”

“Her parents would never go for it-“

“Penelope’s!”

“It’s too small,” I said putting my hands on her shoulders, “Alice it’ll be okay-“